Matau Records Vinyl Record of the day – "Hocus Pocus" by Focus
Date Posted:21 November 2015
Matau Records Vinyl Tune of the Day "Hocus Pocus" by Focus
"Hocus Pocus" was released as a 7" vinyl single in October 1972 on Sire Records. The single version was an edit for radio 3:18 long whilst the version on the vinyl LP Focus II (aka Moving Waves) was 6:42.
Focus II (re-released as Moving Waves) was Focus' the second vinyl LP. The album included "Hocus Pocus" and "Eruption which were both international hits.
Written by Thijs van Leer (keyboard, flute and vocals) and Jan Akkerman (guitar) "Focus" is a prog rock classic featuring van Leer yodelling, whistleing, talking gibberish in between playing the organ and flute. It also features a classic guitar riff from Akkerman. The B-side of the 45 single features the song "Janis"
Focus is a Dutch progressive rock band, founded by Thijs van Leer in 1969. The band broke up in 1978, but reformed in 2002 and has been recording and touring with their last album of new material released in 2012.
You can buy the Best of Focus on vinyl from Matau Records vinyl shop Click Here
...and here's a live version of the song recorded in 1973, check out Thijs van Leer's facial expressions. When they play "Hocus Pocus" live its always faster!